Inspiration Notebook

Typical networking luncheon: arrive to a reception already in progress, people are talking in groups of two and three, very engaged and handing out cards. We settle down at our tables–did I say it’s BMA Chicago?–and begin the lunch, then the presentation. It’s Intel this month, with Nancy Bhagat, Intel’s VP of Sales/Marketing and Director, Global Marketing Strategy and Campaigns. Surprisingly, as Nancy was speaking, I liked the sound of this big company‹seemed like a cool place to work.

Nancy was telling us about the campaign called “Sponsors of Tomorrow,” which focuses on the inventors at Intel, the creative resource, if you will, for the company’s products. The promo on the BMA site said it best: “Intel¹s inventors hold patents for scores of products, such as the universal serial bus, or USB port, which connects computers and peripherals; the DVD; and the technology behind airbag safety.”

The ads she told us had actors portraying the actual inventor employees, and these inventors were treated like rock stars as they showed up in the laboratory. The tagline: “Our rock stars aren’t like your rock stars.”

But things didn’t go right with the videos. This is probably one of our worst fears in giving a speech…the media flubbing up. They just plain didn’t work. But, Nancy in her roll-with-the-punches inimitable style, described the commercials‹and, yes, there were three that stubbornly didn’t work.

What was really cool besides Nancy’s grace under pressure, was seeing out of the corner of my eye, last year’s president, Gary Slack, go back to the media running the tech, and talk with them. Were we going to see the commercials after all? I had my fingers crossed as at the end of Nancy’s talk, it was announced that they were going to try to run those commercials again.

And yes, they worked perfectly. Proving again for the umpteenth time that most times you just need to show ‘em. Words cannot do justice to a well-crafted ad, you have to experience it. But kudos to Nancy for trying. I liked the commercials, but more than that, I liked the going-for-it style of the people at the BMA. -Christina

Check out one of the Rock Star commercials on the Intel site, or go to the BMA site and read the program description.

Tags: BMA Chicago, Intel
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I heard Joe Plumeri, CEO of the Willis Group Holdings, speak at The Executives’ Club of Chicago on October 29, at the club’s first CEO Breakfast of the season.

Plumeri talked about the crisis in trust that American business faces and how greater transparency is needed to rebuild that trust. One consequence of today’s economic climate is that people and companies are afraid to take the risks required for growth and to restore trust.

Businesses must be willing to embrace change and new visions. Plumeri read a letter written in the early 1800s by New York Governor Martin Van Buren to U.S. President Andrew Jackson on the evils of a new form of transportation—the railroad—and how it would wipe out the established and better-known canal system. As Plumeri told the story about the letter, outlining all the ways the railroad would destroy our country, I saw how ludicrous Van Buren’s points were. And how perception, fear, and lack of trust can drive behavior.

Instilling trust and leading from vision is one characteristic of transformational leadership. One of the strategies our company has in growing our business is to learn more about leadership—we are attending a symposium on transformational leadership in November, and will be changing some of our own perceptions about risk, trust, and doing business in this day and age.

So, rather than hunkering down and being risk-averse, we are purposively seeking new ideas and ways of doing business. All in all, doing all the things that businesses do.
—Christina

Tags: Executives' Club of Chicago, Joe Plumeri, leadership, risks, transparency, trust, Willis
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I was talking to two friends yesterday about gooddeedschicago.com, a website our company started recently, and I was telling them the story of its creation:  One day, this past summer, two really good deeds were done for my husband and for me in Chicago. (One, a wallet was returned, and the other, a stranger gave me his parking slip which had an extra hour on it.) I loved hearing their responses. “Oh, yeah, there are lots of good things people do in this city, I have a lot of my own examples,”  one of my friends said. We started talking about what a good deed is: anytime a person goes out of his or her way to help another–something he or she doesn’t do on a regular basis–so opening the door for someone, while nice, isn’t in our definition of a good deed. A good deed is inspiring to others; it is something that when you tell someone about it, they say “Cool” or “ahhhhh.”  My friend said she would share some with me. To be continued…–Christina

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The future of Chicago is colored green. It isn’t exactly a new story, but the business opportunities that seek to make a green vision pay entrepreneurs green dollars became more apparent at a September 10 event, Green Innovation and Entrepreneurship, sponsored by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Environmentally conscious practices in all areas of society designated by “green” are gaining momentum but not yet completely mainstream or else we wouldn’t need a term to differentiate them. “These things are debated,” marveled Channel 5 meteorologist Ginger Zee in her opening story of growing up on an organic farm in western Michigan. Her story illustrated the tension between the common sense of the health advantages of environmentally sustainable practices and the convenience of the American consumer lifestyle.

In real estate development, the term “adaptive reuse” designates the environmentally sustainable practice of retrofitting and reusing old buildings for new purposes. “Adaptive reuse is the greenest project you can build,” said developer David Baum, principal Baum Realty Group.

Mr. Baum’s talk focused on the Green Exchange (GX), a building and community his company is developing for organizations concerned with environmentally conscious and sustainable practices. GX is housed in the former Cooper Lamp factory in Chicago and aspires to LEED Platinum status, the highest environmental designation a building can have. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is a set of standards that measure a variety of environmental metrics in construction, including energy use, water efficiency, and carbon emissions.

Mr. Baum made the case that the energy savings and productivity gains of adaptive reuse specifically and green building practices in general provide a return-on-investment that more than justifies the costs. On productivity savings, for instance, Mr. Baum said, “If people feel better in a space, they are more productive.” He also outlined savings from energy efficient systems and the shared use in GX of administrative spaces and resources.

As green building practices become increasingly adopted and people are more familiar with the benefits, they will want green buildings. Build for the future, Mr. Baum advises. “If you are not building for the future, you will go the way of the (American) car companies,” (he referenced the downfall of the Hummer with the rise of gas prices and environmental awareness).

First Ward Alderman Manuel “Manny” Flores championed the Green Exchange and is working on several other green initiatives. In an energetic and impassioned talk, Ald. Flores told the story of the Cooper Lamp factory and how its family owners wanted a zoning change to shutter the factory, which could no longer compete with Chinese lamp manufacturers, and convert the history building to condos.

Read the business version of the story in Crain’s, “Green light goes on at old Cooper lamp factory” and a more neighborhood-focused view in, “Green-focused development seems to revel in betting against the house” in Medill Reports Chicago. For the more politically oriented story, see “On sustainability and politics,” in the Chicago Reader blog.

Ald. Flores appears to be staking out the green territory in Chicago politics, with his sponsorship of GX and the Green Economy Chicago web forum, along with his vision of a district in his ward defined by green jobs, sustainable housing, and clean manufacturing.

In the housing area, Ald. Flores mentioned the Chicago Housing Authority’s plans to redevelop the Lathrop Homes into a mixed-housing area following LEED standards. The three people who attended from the CHA were extremely enthusiastic about the project. Published information on the CHA’s plans to redevelop the historic Lathrop Homes is difficult to come by, with little major media coverage on the housing project but good coverage by the Logan Square Neighborhood Association on its website and a story on the community controversy in Chi-Town Daily News.

In the economic development area, Ald. Flores mentioned his hopes for establishing a clean manufacturing district in the 1st Ward, near GX and Lathrop homes, in hopes for providing additional opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators to establish jobs. The City of Chicago Department of Community Development is creating a master plan for the Addison Industrial Corridor. The next Addison Corridor Study Community Meeting is set for 7-9 pm Sept. 22 in the auditorium of Lane Tech High School.

“Connecting the dots” between GX, a revitalized Lathrop Homes, and a new clean manufacturing corridor provides “a much stronger opportunity” for innovation and entrepreneurship in Chicago, he said. Taken in the context of work at the region’s universities, the city’s architectural heritage and reputation for being green, and the Chamber’s desire to promote green technology, this Ald. Flores quote has value as both sound byte and call to action: “The City of Chicago is uniquely positioned to be the green Silicon Valley.”

Tags: Chicago, Dave Baum, entrepreneurship, green business, innovation, LEED, Manuel Flores
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Collin was recently recognized by both Chicago’s Social Media Club and local technology columnist Ron May. In last week’s The May Report newsletter, Ron applauded Collin for spreading the word around town about the upcoming MIT EF Whiteboard Challenge. He considers Collin’s actions a welcome sign of teamwork among Chicago’s technology organizations.

Collin was also interviewed at the Social Media Club’s April event in conjunction with SOBCon09, an annual bloggers gathering. See the event video here.

-Christina

Tags: MIT EF, MIT EF Whiteboard Challenge, Ron May, SOBCon09, Social Media Club, The May Report
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I have found it helpful to commit to things I will improve each quarter for myself personally, so I am bringing a “self” to the business who is clear and adding value.

This quarter, it’s sales and self care: upping the number of meetings I will do in a week and adding (or resuming) some self-care disciplines. I have been adding in meditation each day, which helps me with focus and gives me a sense that I can handle whatever comes my way.

Another thing I do on a regular basis is see my coach. While I know the tendency is to think this is a luxury; I assure you, I consider it an investment in myself and in my business, especially when times are scary as they are right now.

I use an organization called the Wright Institute, which offers trainings and coaching for high performance and reaching one’s fullest potential. I recommend taking a look by checking out the books by the two founders, Bob and Judith Wright: Business with Purpose, The One Decision and The Soft Addiction Solution. With Judith’s books, you get two guest passes to their weekend training called the More Life training.

-Christina

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I have been aware that I need to speed things up, and that I waste time throughout my day. I know part of the problem is that my system for tracking what I need to do is not top-notch.

So, I’ve been reading a book on productivity by David Allen—Getting Things Done—and I can see why he is considered a productivity guru. I have always used to-do lists to keep track of my tasks, but lately, as I have more on my plate, the to-do lists break down for me.

Allen’s system uses logical categories. For example, putting all of my Calls to Make in one place so I can take a list with me and can call when I have downtime.

Allen also has a website with great tips and, of course, products you can buy.

-Christina

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I received an email updating me on the inclusion of the Arts and Culture sectors in the funding bills being considered in Congress right now. What I love about these emails is that they keep me informed, and when I went to the website, it made it easy for me to let my Senator or representative know what I want. It’s a great use of email technology, in getting info out quickly—especially when timing is so critical. Check it out here.

-Christina

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I attended an Executives’ Club of Chicago breakfast this past week, and was surprised to see more than 400 attendees at an event during subzero weather in our city. What drew so many people to this breakfast? A perfect topic for our  economy: “Accountable Marketing: What to Measure and How to Measure It.” (This organization has consistently put together high-value speakers for its breakfasts and luncheons. I try not to miss them.)

The speaker who impressed me the most was Kim Feil, Chief Marketing Officer for Walgreens Co., who spoke on “What gets measured, gets done.” She said the Chief Marketing Officer is the Chief Growth Officer. She advised effectiveness over efficiency. A few of the questions she asked: Individual connection—how do we engage with the individual? What do you want the the customer to know, and do they say that back? This shows how well you deliver on your promise to them.

What I was most struck with during her talk was that she communicated very clearly, using very little jargon; her points were made in a very down-to-earth way.  She’s a communicator who wants to make sure her message is not only spoken but is understood by all at the meeting.

-Christina

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I heard a broadcast on National Public Radio as I drove to the local Menards for garland on Thanksgiving weekend. I was transfixed and did not want to leave my car because of the topic—physicians finding meaning in their work, the difference between curing and healing, and why physicians are in crisis and many are taking early retirement. I went to the website and found additional information from the author, Rachel Naomi Remen, and her essay entitled, “Recapturing the Soul of Medicine.” Here’s a link to the essay and an excerpt:

“Meaning is a human need. It strengthens us, not by numbing our pain or distracting us from our problems, or even by comforting us. It heals us by reminding us of our integrity, who we are, and what we stand for. It offers us a place from which to meet the challenges of life. Part of our responsibility as professionals is to fight for our sense of meaning—against fatigue and numbness, overwork, and unreasonable expectations—to find ways to strengthen it in ourselves and in each other.”

I think this relates to all work because we work, not only to get the job done, but to find meaning and satisfaction and connection in what we do. Meaning is the intangible that makes what is difficult worth it because we remember the why.

-Christina

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